Candida albicans enhances the progression of oral squamous cell cancrinoma in vitro and in vivo

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a serious health issue worldwide. OSCC is highly associated with oral candidiasis, although it is unclear whether the fungus promotes the genesis and progression of OSCC or cancer facilitates the growth of the fungus. Therefore, we investigated whether Candida could directly influence OSCC development and progression. Our in vitro results suggest that the presence of live C. albicans, but not C. parapsilosis, enhances the progression of OSCC by stimulating the production of matrix metalloproteinases, oncometabolites, pro-tumor signaling routes, and overexpression of prognostic marker genes associated with metastatic events. We also found that oral candidiasis triggered by C. albicans enhanced the progression of OSCC in vivo through the induction of inflammation and overexpression of metastatic genes and markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Taken together, these results suggest that C. albicans actively participates in the complex process of OSCC progression.